Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-12-09

HuSDduu Sldnce WHICH tAPreSSeu dL
evi6e1t approval of the purchase. ant
be thrust his hand into the depths O
his pocket, inquiring, How much
did you say the tree was worth?'
1--WE got dollar for the others,
said the woman, "but as | was say.
ing, this is the the last. and bit the
smallest l reckon we might let it
60 for little less"
90, I'll make it dollar" said the
farmer, II guess it's worth it," and
be extended as he spoke fresh shin
ing coin towards the woman. She
took it eagerly, and the lad who act
ed as DRYER, rising from his seat, pro-
ceeded to draw the tree to the front
The Kilburn children watched it;
PROCESS with bright eyes, bat theiI
mother's interest was absorbed in the
| woman.
Il suppose your husband is mi
ner?n she veutured.
The woman looked mp from the
knot she was untying in the cotton
handkerchief which served her fol
e purse, and answered briefly: "My
mans dead
"Oh," exclaimed Mrs Kilburn in q
tone Of sympathy, "and you have te
make the living?"
me and Davy," replied the wo
man. "Davy's helped right smart
You must fnd it pretty hard to get
along" murmured Mrs. Kilburn
We've seen some pretty tough
times" asseBted the woman, "but ms
and Davy have pulled together, and
somehow we've allus got through
Urged by the look of interest in
ber listeners face she went on: It's
nigh on two years since he was kill
ed. One morning be was going
down the shalt at the Silver Belt,
and somehow, the bucket got caught
in the beit-rope, and before he could
save himself he was flung out. No
body could tell just how it happened,
bnJ they toek him up from the bot
tom dead, AID brought him home to
me. That was tie day my baby wa.
bern" Her dark eyes grew moist q;
gnc spoke, and the lines of suffering
deepensd 10 her face.
Mrs Kilburn drew a corner of hel
apron across her eyes aud wipeC
them iu silence. She looked dow1
al the child who was standing beside
the mother holding fast to her dress
It's beautiful child you've got.'
she said softly.
she favors him." replied the wo
man, She stopped as she spoke, and
drawing toe child closer, stroked the
fringe Of golden hair back from the
fair, low forehead But the little one
did not notice the caressiug touch
Her large blue eyes were fixed intent
iy On the moving tree, and wave o
Celicate color was rising in her cheeks
Tue next instant, hen the little eyer
green was grasped by farmer Kilburr
and lifted from the wagon. the blue
eyes filed up with tears, the sensitive
face quivered all over, and stretching
out her hands the child gave pierc
ing cry.
Land Sakea !" exclaimed the
mother in tone of dismay, "if she
amt q greviDg after that tree ~
With basty effort to console her shs
took out the coin which she bad JUS
dropped into the handkerchief, and
laying it into one of the little ont
stretched hands. said coaxiDgly
Here. Honey, gee the pretty moon
Hold it tight and don't let it slip
away from you"
The bright, silver circle fell with o
ring to The floor. The child looked
reproachfully through her tears at her
mother, then struggling out of bel
arms, ,toddled towards the boy who
stood regarding her with astonish
ment. She lifted her face imploring
ly to bis, then, holding out her arm:
toward the tree again, redoubled her
sobs.
Don't cry. Sissy, don't cry" said
the boy in q distressful tone. Here
you shall drive Jack and jimmy
Poll the lines and make 'e.n start on.
make 'em get up lively" He held
out The reins which guided the gray
mules as be spoke, but the child would
not touch them. She leaned past him
towards the tree, then, frightened at
the sight Of SO many strangers, drew
back and hiding her face in her broth
er's cost, sobbed ae if her little hearl
would break
The boy looked from the trembling
little figure TO his mother then helpless
ly at the kilburn family. "Pears
like we shall have TO take shat tree
back :" he said.
The KiIburn faces fell. "Maybe
she'll forget all about it when it's out
Of sight" suggested the mother.
The woman in the wagon shoe
her head obviously "She oin't one
that's easy to turn when she gets her
mind set It's more like she'll fret
after that tree all day aud all night
P'rhaps we've hGmored her too much
me an Davy, hut we never could
bear TO rec her gricve She's been u
tender little thing oil her life" " She
was silent for moment, looking at
the child with troubled face; then
she resumed. "She was tickled to
| death when We started cut with the
trees. | reckon she thought summer
had come back, ond she was looking
for 10 see birds among 'em all day
long But she never made bit of
fuss about letting the other trees go
haze TO ask for it back, but / don't
sec no other way"
1--WE bad rather pay back double
for it than not to have it, added The
boy. He lifted bis sister as he sp Ike
and quite unabashcd by the spectato tors
kissed the tears from her flusnei
checks.
20. you shall haye it again, to be
sure" said farmer Kilburn, and hi'
wife said the same, adding as she no
ted the look Of disappointment on hei
own children's faces, lit couldn't pos
sibly be worth 80 much to us as il il
to that baby. 1t would be dreadful
to have her fretting and worrying af
ter it oil the way home "
The tree was lifted to it's place il
the wagon again. The child, slipping
down from her brothers. arms, claspeC
her hands about her recovered teas
ure and bid her happy, tear-staineC